Milo’s Kitchen Dog Treats

Milo’s Kitchen produces dog treats that include jerky, strips and meatballs. The division was previously under Natural Balance, which merged with Del Monte in 2013 and was later associated with Big Heart Pet Brands. The J.M. Smucker Company acquired the brand in 2015.

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The brand has worked to distance itself from the nearly decade-long jerky treat crisis that left more than 1,000 pets dead — proclaiming in 2014 that a revamped Milo’s Kitchen no longer sources any ingredients from China, and that its treats “are proudly made in the USA with 100 percent U.S.-sourced chicken, beef, duck and sweet potato as the No. 1 ingredient.”

Has Milo’s Kitchen Ever Been Recalled?

Yes. In spring 2018, a couple of varieties of Milo’s Kitchen dog treats were recalled over fears of elevated levels of beef thyroid hormone. The FDA has said that “pets that eat food or treats containing thyroid hormones may develop hyperthyroidism, a disease that is rare in dogs and usually triggered by thyroid cancer.” The J.M. Smucker Company said the recall was limited to 2 specific varieties, dates and sizes.

In 2013, Milo’s Kitchen, along with Nestlé Purina PetCare’s Waggin’ Train, voluntarily recalled treats because some packages contained traces of antibiotics not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. Newer packages of the treats began reappearing in stores the next year, though, with a reformulated recipe.

“Our treats are quality-checked at each step and quality-monitored under a comprehensive food safety program designed to prevent potential quality issues before they can occur,” Geoff Tanner, vice president of pet snacks for Milo’s Kitchen, told DVM360 in February 2014.

However, Dr. Jennifer Larsen, a veterinary nutritionist, says she isn’t convinced that even Made in USA jerky treats are completely safe, writing on the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) message boards in summer 2014: “Until we more fully characterize this problem and can determine any treat as safe, I will continue to recommend against using jerky treats regardless of country of origin.”

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Full details of all Milo’s Kitchen recalls appear below.

List of Milo’s Kitchen Recalls

March 2018

Cause: Potentially elevated levels of beef thyroid hormone. Announcement: Company news release dated March 22, 2018 (archived here). What was recalled: The following specific sizes and dates of these Milo’s Kitchen dog treats:

January 2013

Cause: Residual traces of unapproved antibiotics. Announcement:FDA report dated Jan. 9, 2013. What was recalled: Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers. No packaging details or “Best by” dates were given. “This recall was unrelated to the FDA’s ongoing investigation into pet jerky treats,” the company maintains. The recipe has since been reformulated.

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At Petful®, founded by Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and editor Dave Baker, we are on a mission to give our readers the best, most accurate information to help their pets live happier, healthier lives. Our team of expert writers includes veterinarians Dr. Debora Lichtenberg, VMD, and Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, among others. Petful is also the leading independent source of U.S. pet food recall information on the web. Learn more about the amazing team behind Petful here: Meet the Team.